These tables summarize the colors of validation stickers used on passenger-car and motorcycle license plates in all North American jurisdications during the last twenty years. Stickers indicating years of issue and primary use (as opposed to dates of expiration) are noted in italics.
Several interesting trends have come about in this time. One is the increasing use of point-of-sale terminals to generate license plate renewals and print validation stickers on demand. These systems often utilize laser printers, and allow for the license plate number to be printed on the sticker itself. Unfortunately, these trends have been regressive in terms of aesthetics and utility. Thirteen of the states that use such a system don't even bother changing the sticker stock color from year to year, making it impossible to tell at a glance whether a tag has expired or not. Many more no longer use color schemes that involve print colors other than black.
Another emerging trend has been the elimination of plate stickers themselves. Due to the growing ubiquity of computers in law-enforcement work, police officers can access details about registration records without needing to rely on stickers to establish validity. Validation stickers have been eliminated altogether by Quebec, New Jersey, Connecticut, Saskatchewan, and most recently the Northwest Territories; while New York, Texas, and the D.C. currently issue stickers for windshield use and for motorcycles and trailers only.
| United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < | Alabama | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Alaska | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00a | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12b | 13b | 14b | 15 | 16b | 17 | |||||||
| Arizona | Emission | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08c | 09a | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Non-emission | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | |||||||||||||||
| Arkansas | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| California | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| < | Colorado | Emission | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||
| Non-emission | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Connecticut | 96 | 97d | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09e | 10e | 11e | 12e | Stickers discontinued. | |||||||||||
| Delaware | Combined month-year stickers in various colors. | f g | 11g | 12g | 13g | 14g | 15g | 16g | 17 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||
| District of Columbia | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03h | 04h | 05e | 06e | 07e | 08e | 09e | 10e | 11e | 12e | 13e | 14e | 15e | |||||||||
| Florida | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01i | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| < | Georgia | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00b | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09j | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Hawaii | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04b | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| Idaho | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08a | 09b | 10b | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| Illinois | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Indiana | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| Iowa | 96 | 97c | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| < | Kansas | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Kentucky | Cars | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15a | 16a | 17 | ||||||
| Motorcycles | 96 | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana | Cars | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03a | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | ||||||
| Motorcycles | 97 | 98 | 04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maine | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Maryland | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09ab | 10a | 11a | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | ||||||
| Massachusetts | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Michigan | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Minnesota | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Mississippi | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| Missouri | 96 | 97 | - | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| < | Montana | Cars | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||
| Motorcycles | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | PERM | Stickers discontinued after 2003. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| Nevada | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04b | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| New Hampshire | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| New Jersey | 96e | 97e | 98e | 99e | 00h | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06e | 07e | 08e | 09e | 10e | 11e | Stickers discontinued. | ||||||||||||
| < | New Mexico | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01a | 02a | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| New York (motorcycles) | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| North Carolina | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16a | ||||||||
| North Dakota | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05b | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| Ohio | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | ||||||
| Oklahoma | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| < | Oregon | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |||||
| Pennsylvania | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01h | 02h | 03h | 04h | 05h | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | ||||||
| Rhode Island | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| South Carolina | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| South Dakota | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00b | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Tennessee | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
| < | Texas (motorcycles) | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05a | 06a | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |||||||||
| Utah | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Vermont | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04a | 05a | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Virginia | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Washington | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| West Virginia | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| < | Wisconsin | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |||||
| Wyoming | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
a Some examples of these stickers were black on white.
b Some examples of these stickers had black characters on a color background.
c Some examples of these stickers were white on black.
d Some examples of Connecticut '97 stickers were white on magenta:
| 97 |
e Issued to motorcycles only. Passenger cars issued windshield stickers instead (except for 2006-11 New Jersey, where no visible validation was used).
f Beginning in December 2005, newly-issued Delaware validation stickers have been black on white regardless of month and year. Expirations from December '06 to (presumably) November '10 existed in both old and new color schemes.
g Stickers used on Delaware's optional "Centennial Plate" base (introduced October 2008) have been black on gold.
h Or windshield/window sticker.
i Some examples of these stickers were black on yellow.
j Later examples of these stickers had black print and white fields on a color background.
k Used on the optional "Treasure the Chesapeake" baseplate.
| Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < | British Columbia | 96a | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||
| Alberta | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | ||||||
| Saskatchewan | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Stickers discontinued. | |||||||||
| Manitoba | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |||
| Ontario | Jan-Mar | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||
| Apr-Jun | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| < | Jul-Sep | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||
| Oct-Dec | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Québec | Validation stickers discontinued after 1992. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Brunswick | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Nova Scotia | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Prince Edward Island | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| < | Newfoundland & Labrador | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||
| Yukon Territory | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Northwest Territories | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12b | 13 | 14 | 15 | Discontinued | |||||||
| Nunavutc | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
a Later examples of British Columbia '96 stickers were pink on white:
| 96 |
b Later examples of Northwest Territories '12 stickers were white on green:
| 12 |
c Nunavut existed as part of the Northwest Territories until 1999.
With thanks to: Keith Dickson, Jeff Ellis, Mike Franks, Eric Maki, John Northup, Matthew Thoreson.
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Part 4: Month stickers